Gun Control
According to Physicians for Social Responsibility, the cost of gun violence in the United States each year is more than $100 billion. While gun violence is the result of many factors, the availability of guns to children, felons and mentally unstable individuals is a signficant problem.
Representative Waxman supports common sense gun control measures that keep deadly weapons out of the hands of criminals, children and other high-risk individuals. He supports reinstatement of the assault weapons ban, requirements for child safety locks on handguns, increased requirements for background checks at gun shows and stronger regulation of high-powered .50 caliber weapons.
In the 112th Congress, Representative Waxman has cosponsored the following measures to reduce gun violence in America:
- H.R. 308, the Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act, would ban high capacity magazines such as the one that was used in the tragic shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Arizona.
- H.R. 591, the Gun Show Loophole Closing Act, would require background checks for firearm transfers at guns shows.
- H.R. 1506 would ban individuals on the terrorist watch list from purchasing firearms and explosives.
- H.R. 1781, the Fix Gun Checks Act of 2011, would improve the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which identifies individuals who have been disqualified from owning a firearm because of an existing criminal record or documented mental illness.
